What a joy to be in a Shropshire Joule’s pub on folk night ! As Pub Curmudgeon noted yesterday, the New Inn is Newport’s GBG pub, and a good example of the Joules style, though with a bit more going on than usual. A programme of free music, beer and rum festivals to keep Sunday… Continue reading NEW INN, OLD FOLK
ON THE HOP IN NEWPORT, SALOP
My last Staffordshire GBG tick came just outside Newport, Salop. As is traditional, this is what a completed Staffs looks like, Mr BRAPA (I expect Pubmeister first completed it when it was still called Ye Middle Mercia). The last tick was the Red Lion in Sutton, another place name that pops up in multiple counties. Another… Continue reading ON THE HOP IN NEWPORT, SALOP
CHASING CANNOCK CHARM
Staffordshire is an underrated county, tainted by association with scandals (Mid Staffs Hospital, the Julian Cope cover for “Fried”, a short pint in Tutbury etc) and some fairly poor social housing (the Tamworth towers, the Kinver Caves). Scandalously, some pubs only serve one beer. Like this one. But it has Bass, it has the toilet museum… Continue reading CHASING CANNOCK CHARM
BARTON-UNDER-NEEDWOOD – PEDI HANDLED WITH CARE
After finishing Derbyshire, thoughts turn naturally to Staffs, where frankly there’s an even better chance of Bass/Pedi and of being called “M’duck“. That’s pretty much all I really need from pubs these days. Barton-u-L, as the kids call it, is handily placed between the National Arboretum and that place where they brew Bass. Since Lord Buckethead… Continue reading BARTON-UNDER-NEEDWOOD – PEDI HANDLED WITH CARE
MODERN MATLOCK
Enough of East Angular for a while. I might report on Littleport if I can bear it. I had a couple of days recovery while Mrs RM drank her Southwold present. By Saturday we were going mad so I suggested a day trip to the Dales. If nothing else it’s a chance to stop at… Continue reading MODERN MATLOCK
WOBBLING TO WALBERSWICK
So a good start in Southwold at the classic Lord Nelson before we headed off over the dunes towards Walberswick and past the beach huts, led by Sis and Niece. Look at them go ! (they were hungry). The main talking point was the c.£200,000 that those huts (no overnight stay) are fetching. Up until recently… Continue reading WOBBLING TO WALBERSWICK
SOUTHWOLD – ALWAYS CHANGING, ALWAYS THE SAME
There’s a lot to be said for and against sisters, I’m sure, but having one who invites you down to her holiday cottage in Falmouth and Southwold in successive years is hard to beat. It doesn’t make up for what she did to my Action Man in 1973, mind. Sis had used her Birthday presents to pay… Continue reading SOUTHWOLD – ALWAYS CHANGING, ALWAYS THE SAME
IS IT REALLY MY JOB TO TEST THEIR BEER ?
Alternative title: (Framlingham) Castle on a Hill Some more shameless raiding of modern pop culture today. My son Matthew was disgusted with yesterday’s effort, but it’s harder to work the LP he got for his 16th birthday into my post. Here’s a sample of his Lorna Shore album. So he gets the next best thing, the… Continue reading IS IT REALLY MY JOB TO TEST THEIR BEER ?
NO RICKROLLING IN NEWTON-LE-WILLOWS
Reader Mark from the USA seems to have a mild obsession with Rick Astley, going as far as to visit the Rickmeister’s baronial birthplace in Newton-le-Willows. Shamefully, that meant he’d seen more of the unofficial Woollyback capital than I had. Sure, I’ve got off there by mistake, who hasn’t when drunk ? But the nearest pub… Continue reading NO RICKROLLING IN NEWTON-LE-WILLOWS
STRONG AND STABLE SOUTH LIVERPOOL
Trips to the Borough of Sefton are a bi-annual event; Crosby and Southport are two of my favoured towns, and always seem to be able to dig up a new micro pub, bottle shop or occasional real boozer to keep their GBG entries fresh. And then there’s Harpers Fish & Chip shop to seal the… Continue reading STRONG AND STABLE SOUTH LIVERPOOL
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